Former EastEnders actress Hilda Braid, who played Victoria "Nana" Moon in the soap, has died at the age of 78.

She died peacefully at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, East Sussex after a period of ill health, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Braid starred in the BBC soap from 2002 to 2005. Her other TV credits include Citizen Smith, Casualty, and Man About The House.

An EastEnders spokesman said she was a "much-loved member" of the cast.

'Great humour '

He added: "We at EastEnders are very sorry to learn that Hilda has passed away.

"She was a lovely actress who brought her great humour and wit to the role of Nana Moon which earned her many fans, young and old alike.

"She was a much-loved member of our cast who appeared in over 200 episodes of EastEnders, most notably the award-winning episode that saw her character, Nana Moon, visit her beloved late husband's grave in Normandy with grandson Alfie Moon.

Shane Richie played Nana Moon's grandson Alfie

"Everyone at EastEnders sends deepest sympathies and condolences to her family and close friends at this sad time."

Born in Northfleet, Kent, the Rada-trained actress, whose final scenes in the soap were screened in December 2005, had a lengthy list of stage and screen credits to her name.

In 1985 she acted alongside Bill Treacher, who played Arthur Fowler in EastEnders, and Derek Martin who still plays Charlie Slater in the soap, in the TV series The Bright Side.

Other credits included a 1997 appearance in the film 101 Dalmatians, as well as several roles in the theatre, including work with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Braid's close friend, Brian Ralfe, said she died just after 1300 GMT on Tuesday.

Mr Ralfe, 62, said: "She was an amazing woman. She was a diva in every sense of the word and was highly-respected in the profession. She will be sorely missed."

He said Braid spent the last year at Fairdene Lodge nursing home in Hove, East Sussex, suffering from dementia.